5 Hitmen to watch this WHL season

Although there’s a lot of newness around the Calgary Hitmen this season, there are also 17 returning players back with the WHL squad.

Under the watchful eye of new GM Jeff Chynoweth, new coach Dallas Ferguson has his team ready for the 2017-18 campaign, which starts this weekend with a home-and-home series against the Kootenay Ice.

Following are five players to keep an eye on this season:

G Nick Schneider

Schneider was acquired by the Hitmen on May 26 after the 6-foot-2, 182-lb. netminder suited up for 133 games over four seasons for the Medicine Hat Tigers. The 20-year-old product of Leduc, Alta., will now have to get used to wearing his new Hitmen uniform in his final WHL campaign. “It was a big adjustment in that way,” Schneider said. “It’s a new jersey, new people around … They hired a lot of new staff, too, so that was pretty cool getting to meet everybody. That’s really exciting, obviously. They want to win here, and they have a winning tradition.” Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving is happy that his club’s netminding prospect will be right down the hall all season. “Our development people will see him on a regular basis,” Treliving said. “The fact that he’s next door, you can keep a little closer eye on him.”

F Matteo Gennaro

Fresh off of a free-agent tryout with the Ottawa Senators, Gennaro is now fully committed to helping the Hitmen win. “I think overall, we’ll have a solid roster,” said the 20-year-old centreman from St. Albert, Alta., who’s looking to improve upon on 80-point season. “To me, I’m just focused on my process — goals and doing the things that lead me to success.” After watching Gennaro score twice and set up six others in eight games against his Tigers last season, Schneider has no doubt that his new teammate will continue to produce. “It’s nice to be on the same side,” Schneider said. “I feel like he’ll get those points that we need and also he’ll lead by example, and he’s a hard worker. He’s one of those guys who wants to go to the next level, and you can tell that, so he’s going to really lead by example as well.”

F Andrei Grishakov

Selected in the second round (106th overall) of the 2016 CHL Import Draft, Grishakov is back for his second season with the Hitmen. Ferguson has confidence that the 6-foot-1, 200-lb. left-winger from Chelyabinsk, Russia, can improve upon the 11 goals and 35 points he put up in 70 games during his rookie WHL campaign. “When Grish plays a heavy game and he’s managing the puck, I think he’s a real effective player,” said Ferguson, who has confidence that Grishakov can take another step this season. “We were just talking to him on the ice after practice. He’s obviously got to keep his motor running where he’s always moving, because some guys have a good glide, some guys don’t … For him, when he’s moving and he’s working, he’s usually involved in the play, and he’s a smart player that can make good decisions with the puck.”

F Tristen Nielsen

After scoring just three goals and adding four assists in 49 games during his rookie season with the Hitmen, Nielsen dedicated himself to training hard in the off-season. “I really pushed my limits this summer, and I tried to get better,” said the 5-foot-9, 179-lb. centre, the club’s first-round pick (20th overall) in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. “I know I put in the effort, and I’ve just got to believe in myself.” Ferguson commended Nielsen on having a really good training camp and pre-season. “He’s got the motor running all the time,” Ferguson said. “He plays with good pace, and he’s got a good skill-set as far as he’s not afraid to make plays when he sees them. One of the things I like the most about his game is how he shoots the puck. He gets it off his stick, and he has the ability to score on his first shot.”

D Vladislav Yeryomenko

‘Yo-yo’, as his teammates call him, has high aspirations for the Hitmen this season. “I’m excited to play this season with this team,” said the 6-foot, 179-lb. defenceman from Vitebsk, Belarus, who the Hitmen selected in the first round (46th overall) of the 2016 CHL Import Draft. “We’re going to play good this year, take a playoff spot and win the trophy.” Ferguson described Yeryomenko as “pretty shifty,” and added that he’s hard to check. “When he’s playing at a pretty high pace, I think he’s a pretty effective player,” said the Hitmen’s new bench boss. “I think there’s a lot of good qualities in his game, especially his skating and his poise with the puck.” Yeryomenko also has lofty goals for himself in his second season. “I want to score some goals, make lots of assists and be one of the leaders of the team this year,” he said.

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